Steering wheel



. A l '1,476,145 F. L. CANTRALL STEERING WHEEL Filed Feb. 8, 1919 um vIN VN TOR FoRfPfsr L .cfm/TRA@` BY 5 4 14A /I//A/ H/ A TTOR NE YSPatented Dec.. 4, 1923. i l Y unirse :STATES Persan is..

FORREST L. CANTRALL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO LIBERTYPACLENLSV i SYNDICATE, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

STEERING WHEEL. f

Application mea Febrary s, 1919. seriai 110,275,869.

/Another ob]ect of the invention is to provide a steering wheel whichmay be locked out of engagement with the ,steering4 post so that theautomobile cannot .be operated, the device thus constituting an.effective means of preventing theft or unauthorized use of the car.

Another object of the invention is to p-rovide a steering wheel whichmay be disconnected from the steering post so that it is rotatablerelative thereto, and then locked in this position, and which may alsobe tipped about an axis lying ina plane transverse to the axis of thesteering post, the combination of these two movements making it possibleto positionthe wheel in av plane parallel to the edge of the driversseat irrespective of the position of the front wheels of the car.

The invention possesses other featuresof advantage, some of which, withthe foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of thepreferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawingsaccompanying and forming a part of the specification. It; `is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the saiddrawings and description, as I may adopt'variations of the preferredform ywithin the .scope of my invention asl set forth in the/claims.

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the steering wheel of my invention; v

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion," of the wheelstructure;

Figure 3 is a Avertical sectional view through Va Yportion ofthe wheelvstructure; Figure 4 is Va vertical sectional. view through auportion ofthe wheel'structure, the plane of section being indicated bythe line4--4 of Figure 3.

In general termsmy invention comprisesl a cylindrical head lixed Vuponthe steering post ofthe automobile, a hub journaled upon the head,axiallyalined arms'fixed on the hub perpendicular to the kaxis ofits,

time rotatable movement, spiders, journaled upon vthe arms, and; a rimixed upon the spiders.

Means are provided for'locking the hubv and thehead together, to causethem to rotate as one,when the wheel is turned to steer the car,andsirnultaneously therewith, locking the spiders andthe arms togetherto fix-,Y`

the plane of the wheel relative to the axis 'of' the steering post..Means are alsoprovided for locking the locking Vineans either in theengaged or disengaged position.l

A cylindrical .head 2 is fixed upon the i steering post 3 and journaledupon the upper end of the steering column 4. A quadf rant 6 and controllevers 47 and `8 are provided in accordance with common practice;

Journaled or pivotally mounted upon theY head 2 is a hub 9 which ispositioned there on by the shoulder 11 and the `flange plate 12 securedagainst the head by the nut 13. A housing 14 encloses the flange plateand upper face of the headand hub. A

Extending.radially from the huband` perpendicular to the rotative axisthereof are alined arms 14 and 15 and journaled or pivotally mounted onthere arms are spiders 16 and 17 respectively which carry the wheel rim18. The arm 14 is hollow for lightness and vstrength and forms a plainbearingin the spider hub 16a. TheA iange A19-formed on the arm 14 andbearingagainst the spider hub 16av in conjunction. with the fiange 20:

bearing against the spider hub 17' and formed Vonr the opposite arm15,position the arms in the spidervhubs and prevent axial movementtherebetween.v

The arm 15 is also o-urnaled pivotallyry L arranged in the spider hub17a, but a bolt is disposed between y the two and V,within the the hub 9and the Vhead 2,'and the jarin'll andthespider hub 1721that is forsimulta-v neously locking the arm :to both the steering` post and therim. Means are alsofp-rovided for lockingthe lookin .means or boltin yeither the engaged or t efdisengaged-position. In theengagedposition,the plane of spider hub and the arm for locking together '1.00'

one structure so that rotation of the steering wheel effects the desiredmovement of the front wheels of the car. In the disengaged position,'thesteering wheel is operatively disconnected from the steering post "andfront wheels of the car, being freely rotatable upon: the'head, Vand'is' also capablev of being tipped out of the planeperpem dicular to itsaXis of rotation in which it normally lies, into a plane approachingparl allelism with said axis. The practicalefect of this freedom ofmovement is to permit the driver to tip the nearest edge of, thesteering wheell downwardly or upwardly,

irrespective Vof the position of the .front wheels of the car so that,ample room isfpro'- y vided yfor enteringor leaving his seat; and

further, by locking the locking means or bolt, ,in the 1 disengaged.position, the carY is rendered inoperative, and theft" or"unau thoriz'eduse eliectively prevented.

Interposed betweenthe spider hub 17a and thearm l5 is a sleeve orbushing 22 which is forced into the hub under pressure suilicientY tofix it inpermanent yposition in the hub,

but which forms a turning lit Vwith the armh journaled therein. 'Thebush-ing 22 extends farther into the hub than the arm, and'both,

the end of thearmand the contiguousvwalls of the lbushing are providedwith' slots 23l and y24 `respectively adapted to receive aI bar bolt 25,which -invone position, as shown in Fig. 2, engages both slots. andprevents relamotionbetween the arm and the l (to the in the slot 24,until it leaves tive rotary spider hub, but which is slidable right inFig.y 2)

the slot 23 andfdisengages the end of the' arm, thus leaving the arm andhublrelatively rotatably movable.l The bar'bolty25 is notched to engagethe head 260i a rodl 27 extending' throug'hl theA hollow arm l5 and hub49. Y The end of this rod is bushed i with theI-boltv'28, which formsansl'iding it with the :interior 4of the arm. "The bolt isv securedl tothe rod 27'by`the pin 29 and is adapted .to engage a recess formedinxthe head 2. "When so engaged the hubl '9 is operatively secured tothe head 2, `but on` the retraction of drawn frein the recess leavingthe hub` 9 free itorlrotationalimovement on the head.

A bushing3l is insertedlin the 'end of thel arm l5 and secured thereinVby upsetting the inner edges 32'at the bottom of'the slots 23;

This bushing surrounds the rod'27, prevent-f ing-'its disengagement fromthe l`boltf25 'and provides a xed stopy between which and the Yendothe-bolt 28 a spring 33 is coiled about y bolt25-28 and for lockingit inthe retracted position. 4'Abushing 34 otthesame ini side diameter:as bushing 22 is inserted in the Vtumbler lock 47 of known design ismounted mounting, 'rotation of. the

i verse slot 44,

` back to first the bar -bolt 25, the bolt 28 with. which itisoperativelyfone, is with gag/e the l -ll`possible'accidental',dis'conne'ction, ,and '.the `key remov'e`d;" `fl`he y is such thatthey bar Y turning the wheel,

end of the hub 17 and held therein bythe screw 36. A cylindrical plug 37is slidably` arrangedl within the bushing 34 andis provided withaknurled flange 38 onfitsouter end to provide a finger hold. The innerend of the plug is formed withA ashortwe,retzen-y. sionf39 slotted toreceive one' side' ofthe bar' bolt 25 and 'secured'tliereto by a pin 41.Eccentrically mounted in the plug is a rotatablerbolt 42 provided withan extension 43 lying vin a transverse slot 44 formed in the plug andadapted in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to engage; in 'anannularI groove 46 formed inthe bushing ,34. vA

in they endv of 4the plug 34 and the lock cylin der 48 operativelyconnected to therotatable boltgby means oi'l screws 49y or equivalent fslotfformed inthe end 'of Because of its eccentric Y rotatable bolt by`thelrey of the lock 47.,k turns the bolt/extension out of engagementwith the groove 46 and into the i deeper ,portion 'of th 'e,=,trans'.ywhen the plug .withjitsat-f tached bolt 25-28 may pulled outwardly bytheknurledvliange and a., ;ainst vthe resistance of the spring 33untilhstopped by. engagement otthe,y bolt 25with the [end of the?bushing.34,'at which ,point the-bolt eX- tension 4.3 is in register,withtheannular groove 51 formed inthe bushingj34, and may be engagedtherein by yturning the ykey positiomthus locking ythe bolt 2528v inAthe! disengaged, position. The KV10n wheel may then be freely rotatedonthep,y steering post headfand tipped into substantialparallelism withIits axis of rotation, and thecar is inoperable sincedt cannotbesteered.' l i 1 .Y 105 To yagain operatively connect thewheel Aforsteerin'gft-he car, the key is inserted in thev lockfand the, rotatablebolt turned ,out enrridge engaging ai the I.rotatable bolt.

gagem'enuwith thegroove 571` when thehjl spring 33 .will engagel the,bolt 25 ,with the 'to bring the parts -su'cfcessively into register.

The 'rotatable bolt 42iis vthen turnedtoe'ny theend of the slot-'23,thusf'temporarilylix 1. meth@ pane of the 'wheres misuse; quentlyentirely seats inl the 4slotl :when uponx ik ,the lOQl. 2.8i.'lltOff'tS'.

vrecess inthehead`2ff" "4g "if I` claim: 1 l steeringwheeladapted'to,besecured' to the steering post of an automobile,comv'prising a' hubv mounted for. rotation on .said Vsteerinpostda`hollow arm extending from i said hu a spider pivetally mounted onsaidam; @prim @Cured .fO' ,Said Spider., a, bei: Lbolt; te@

boitg25nrayengages.in(

slidably engaging the spider and engageable with said arm to lock thespider and arm together, a bolt connected to said bar bolt and slidablymounted in said arm and hub and engageable with said steering post tolock the lhub to said steering post, and means slidably mounted in saidspider for simultaneously operating said bolts. 4

2. A steering wheel adapted to be secured to the steering post of anautomobile, comprising a hub mounted for rotation on said steerin post,a hollow arm extending from said hu a spider ivotally mounted on saidarm, a rim securedp to said spider, a bar bolt slidably engaging thespider and engageable with said arm to lock the spider and arm together,a bolt connected to said bar bolt` and slidably mounted in said arm andhub and engageable with said steering post to lock the hub to saidsteering post, means slidably mounted in said spider for simultaneouslyoperating said bolts, and means for locking said operating means inposition.

3. A steering wheel adapted to be secured to the steering post of anautomobile, comprising a hub mounted for rotation on said steering post,a hollow Varm extending from said hub, a spider pivotally mounted onsaid. arm, a rim secured to said splder, a bar bolt p slidably engagingthe spider and engageable with said arm to lock the spider and armtogether, a bolt connected to said bar bolt and slidably mounted in saidarm andphub and engageable with said steering `post toA lock the hub tosaid steering post, a spring for retaining said bolts in engagedposition, a manually operated plug slidably arranged in said'spider andconnected to said bar bolt whereby said bolts may be retracted, and akey-controlled means in said plug or locking said bolts in position.

4. A steering Wheel adapted to be secured to the steering post of anautomobile, comprising a rim, a spider secured to the rim, an

connected to said bolt and slidably mounted in said spider, and a bolteccentrically n mounted in said plug and rotatable into lockedengagement with said spiderrwhen said first mentioned bolt is inoperative and Y inoperative positions.

5. A steering wheel adaptedtobe secured to the steering post ofanautomobile, comprising a hub mounted for rotation on said steringpost, a hollow arm extending from said hub, a spider pivotally mountedon said arm, a rim secured to said spider, a bar bolt .slidably engagingthe spider and engageable with said arm to lock the spider' and armvtogether, a bolt connectedto said bar bolt and slidably mounted inV saidarm and hub and engageable with said steering post to lock the hub tosaid steering post, a spring Jfor retaining said bolts in engagedposition, a manually operated plug slidably arranged in said spider andconnected to said bar bolt whereby said bolts may be retracted, and abolt eccentrically mounted in said plug and rotatable into lockedengagement with said spider when said irstmentioned bolts are in lockingand inretracted positions. y

6; In a steering wheel, a post having a pin slot, a crossl head having apin hole leading to said slot and terminating at its outer end in a lockchamber having transversebolt slots in the wall thereof, a key pininserted insaid pin hole and entering said pin slot in the post and alock mounted at the outer end of said pin and having -atransverselocking bolt entering a bolt slot and holding said key.

pin to'or from engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco,California, this 3d day of'February, 1919.l Y FORRESTL. CANTRALL.

In presence of C. S. EVANS.

